Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
Power sector employees participated in large numbers across the nation in response to the 2 day All India General strike given by NCCOEEE and AIPEF. Power sector employees boycotted work in many states. Women also took part in the struggles in large numbers.
Power sector employees in various parts of the country participated in huge numbers in the 2 days All India General strike under the banner of National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) and All-India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF). They boycotted work and demanded a total stop to any and every policy of the Center to privatize electricity.
Their primary demands are:
- Scrapping of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021,
- Scrapping of Standard Bidding Document for total privatization of electricity distribution,
- Immediate withdrawal of electricity privatization in states and union territories,
- Implementation of old pension scheme for all power sector employees,
- Regularization of contract workers.
The provisions of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 are anti-people and anti-workers’. It serves the interest of the private sector players and will gradually destroy the public sector entirely. It will not only put the future of about 25 lakh power employees in danger but will also aversely affect their families and consumers at large.
Privatization of electricity distribution companies (discoms) is anti-people, anti-worker, and anti-national. It is a crucial public sector affecting masses of people and has been built with the sweat and blood of its workers over decades and people’s money.
The struggle of power sector employees must be supported by everyone!